XIX. "Let's do a spy work!"

      Ranger Plane silently hovered over the "Lucky Tom".
Golden cat statue on roof of Cat food factory was well known
place for all city animals. There was only one animal casino,
and into city, where humans had forbid azart games. What an
irony.
      Even that rangers more had used the newest Gadget's
invention - 'RangerWing' - for actions like this one, where for
succeeding was need the skill of silent approach and depart,
things like ballon-hovered Ranger plane, Gadget had once
builded from junk into one hour, was preferred ones.
      Rangers wasn't awaited guests here. Few times, they had
been inside, had ended with big yelling, running and fighting,
and much loss of Fat Cat's profit, not counting reputation. Fat
Cat too know, that they had discovered his hideout. But golden
statues cant be found on any corners, so he choosed to stay and
only keep an eye on unwelcome visitors.
      But there was change from last time. At the entrance
stand guard, checking all entering guests for weapons. Rangers
exchanged looks from their position between statue ears. This
was something new. Usually at doors stand Brune - old rat,
whose only order was help drunk guests found exit, when they
leaved, and warn for intruders. Now there stand Mepss, Fat
Cat's right hand, and look wery angry and mean.
      "Wonder, where Brune had gone?" Dale grin, remembering
first time they had entered this place.
      "Soon we will know," Chip whispered, checking headset.
      Monterey had landed the plane on cats head, little closer
to left ear. By now he together with Dale prepared winch, while
Chip last time checked his equipment.
      "Okey, lets go."
      Chip tie rope around his waist and climbed over plane
bort. Dale pressed button on pult, and his friend start descend
to the cats glass eye.

      Monterey put on another headset and microphone and
adjusted it to his long nose.
      "Allo, Chip, do you hear me?"
      Answer was few outbursts of static.
      Jack turned controller on side of headset.
      "Repeat, Chip!"
      "Turn off volume, Jack!" was angry reply. "You near make
me deaf!"
      Jack fastly do as asked and sighted.
      "How is descend?" he asked.
      "Get ready to move me left," come reply.
      "Okey."
      Jack exchanged few words with Dale, then chipmunk pressed
few switches on panel. Plane yerked forward and stopped, moving
her legs for a few cm from their position before.
      "Ok." Jack hear into headset.

      Chip made a few circles into rope, before he managed
caught corner of cat's eye and stop moving. He dragged himself
closer, and then secured with rope.
      He pull out from pocket microphone and gum sticker.
Applied sticker and microphone to green glass, that made
"Tom's" eyes, he connected other end of vire to his own
headset.
      Outburst of static again hit his ears, and he quickly
turn second regulator.
      "Guess, it was revenge, Chip?" he hear voice of Monty.
      Chip dont waste time for answer, he start checking
connections. Soon he had repaired break, and now he and Monty
can listen to conversation, that was going inside.

      There was few voices, who all talk simultaneously. Chip
show thumb up to his friends and start listen.
      "What do you mean with 'I dont know'?!!" shout some soft
velvet voice. Angry tone spoiled beauty of it, but Fat Cat
really sounded ready to blow up any moment, so it was
forgetable for him. Strange. Usually only Rangers had managed
get him into could rage...
      "But boss! I checked! And Mepss too! We both checked
twice!" other voice replied into trembling tone.
      "Wart," Chip stated well known truth to his friends into
plane. "Wonder, what poor lizard do wrong this time."
      "Usually it was Mool who spoiled all his plans," Jack's
voice enter conversation.
      "He checked! With what you checked, idiot! If not Semmy,
i may be dead now!" Fat Cat hissed.
      "But boss, we cant imagine, that they will rig a
refrigerator!" stated third voice.
      "We will get to you too, Snort!" Fat Cat promised into
soft voice, but one, that makes chills down your spine. "By now
i want to know, how they get in and placed these bombs at
entrance, main table and my workroom!!! And who they was!"
      Rangers exchanged shocked looks.
      "I want to know, who want me sent ballistic!?"
      "Sorry, boss, what mean 'sent ballistic'?" fourth voice
interrupted Fat Cat.
      "It mean 'blow up', idiot!"
      "O, yeah, boom was loud..."
      That was too much for Fat Cat's stressed nerves. Next
moment from inside appear sounds of moving, hissing, yelling
and screaming. Chip vinced and tuned off some volume.
      "Ok, mates, any ideas?" Jack asked unsurely.
      "Fat Cat at last crossed Rat Capone's way," Dale suggested.
      "He still is weak from battle with Maikie." Chip disagree.
      "We aren't sure. We only hear rumours that he is weak.
Maybe that's what he want all us to think?" Dale remain on his.
      "Maybe. But remember - that feline had many enemies,"
Jack said slowly.
      "Yes, but Dale too is right. Only Capone may used bombs,"
Chip sighted. "We will need check him too, when we finish here."
      "You don't forget something, Chip?" Jack asked.
      "What?"
      "We planned leave to England this afternoon..."
      "Ops, looks like Fat Cat had ended his 'teach respect'
lesson," Chip suddenly said and again turned in spy microphone.

      There was weary sighting of fighters inside.
      "I don't want any more 'surprises'! So one of you will
stay here all night. Snort, you will be the day guard, Wart
takes night. You will get changed at afternoon, Snort. Wart,
you free. Go take some sleep and be back at nine. Mool, i want
you go to hospital and get all from Brune and Semmy, they knows
about what happened." Fat Cat said slowly.
      "Yes, boss," three weak voices reply.
      "And keep your eyes open. All i want for full happiness
is getting rangers on my neck! Go!"
      There was heard some steps, then opened and closed door.
      Chip listened some time, but nothing happened. He was
ready to end listening, when there appear some purring and
murmuring. He turned in volume.
      Fat Cat was purring and talking to himself. Despite
volume turned to end, and purring more resembling sounds, that
may make an adult lion after heavy meal, Chip can understand
only few phrases, but that was enough to puzzle him
completely...
      "Who... Who was so strong... Only Capone... But he knew
that i dont leave that so... And he knew he will be first
suspected... No, he still was in bed... I was always saying -
taking dangerous henchmens asks for trouble... Fool Capone...
But who then... Not that these "so good doers" r-rangers...
They aren't capable of that... Some human... But they can come
and tear all apart without any trouble... It doesnt make
sense... Okey, end guessing on coffee remains, back to work..."
      Door opened and closed again, and now there really was
silence.
      Chip carefully removed and folded spy equipment, packed
them into his pocket and then give sign to pull him back.
      Rangers exchanged worrying looks, but while Monterey
turned plane and send it flying to city park, no one say a
word.


            XX. "The heir is found!"

      Mary Brownback sleep well over midday, before her
mother's loud voice vaked her up. If not that, she, possibly,
had had slept to evening.
      "Mary, wake up!"Janet start shake her.
      Girl opened dream-full eyes.
      "Whsat clock, mom?"
      "Half over twenty!"
      "Then why not let me sleep... The disco boys
yesterday..." Mary yawned. "Ahh, i was so tired, i will..."
      "Wake up, i get bad news!" Janet hissed, shaking daughter
again.
      Mary stop playing and sit up in bed. She was into
rosecoloured nightgown. Still yawning, she climbed out, get a
warm halat from near chair and turned into it, before following
mother to kitchen.
      Janet already made some histerically activities into it,
without big success.
      "What's wrong, mom? Owner think about throwing us out
again?" Mary asked, oppressing another yawn. She get a piece of
orance and cut teeths into it. Could, fresh juice let her feel
better.
      "Worse. Remember Olivia's testimony?"
      "And?" Mary say into less sleepy voice.
      "Francis had found a heir!" Janet scream out. "She is on
her way to England!"
      Orange get dropped on table.
      "How you found out?" Mary asked, quickly catching bowl
with water. Fast washing hands and eyes, she brushed away
remains of sleep.
      "I went to market at morning as usual. By way meet missis
Ketrin, you know her. We talked..."
      "Mom, how?!"
      "I talk with Ketrin, when i see Gina running toward us. I
called, and she stopped, before run waiter. She then tell me
about news."
      "And how she had found?" Mary now was fully alert.
      "As i understand from her talk, she had run into one of
stewardess from Fergusholl at the train station... You know
Gina, her tongue is like a needle to bit others..."
      'Your isnt less sharp', Mary sight mentally, but said
nothing.
      "...She said something about Fergusholl workers and their
pride, stewardess cut back, and so into heart of crying and
yelling one at other she had spit out last argument - that the
heir is found and we all dont have any chance get hands on
castle and its staff!"
      "Strange, that Fransis keep so silent last weeks...
Usually he always gathered us together to spread out news,"
Mary thinked loud.
      "Im afraid, that he wanted a surprise for us." Janet
sighted.


            XXI. One - Zero at Syril's side.

      Syril get caught off-guard, when one of security
personnel mouses caught her by hand and delivered order about
arriving to boss immediately.
      "Yes, i will do. One sec," she said, turning out from
hold, and walk toward the redaction working room. Dropping her
bag at her worktable - clean, between - she looked around.
      "Hey, where's Blansh?"
      "Get called to 'bullfrog' for a 'coffee'," Winss sighted.
      "What fly bites him?"
      "Who knows, but he again yelled on Alex. She walked out
in tears."
      "Things here get worse, while i was out," Syril noticed,
walking toward boss office.
      Giving a pityful look at secretary, she stepped straight
into cabinet.

      "... picant things! Dirty revealings! Where is it all?!!"
boss was into his element, terrorizing Blansh.
      Syril grin, noticing that he didn't even notice her
entrance and said loud:
      "Ser, when we found out, that Harold III had had
'bubbled' all his wealth to some thiefs, you personally for..."
      "Syril?!!" William turned to her at moment. "Don't even
try! If we publish that, we get closed as soon as Harold read
that!!!"
      "And when i - between, with risk for my life," Syril
continued, "had found out about the cheating into Fat Cat's
casino, it was you again, who..."
      William get noticeably paler.
      "You really like to become main dinner at Fat Cat's dinner
table? He will tear our redaction apart, if we print that!!!"
      Syril smiling crossed room and drop into William's chair.
Crossing her legs, she made most blinding smile she can.
       "So there go all our dirty revealings. We cant print
one, because it will offend our owner, and if we dont get
closed, there will be staff shifting for sure. We cant print
another, or we will face terror. What there remains?"
      "Out from my place!" William had noticed that his place
is filled by Syril.
      "As you wish, boss."
      Syril stand and walked to her boss. Eyeing him couldly,
she said.
      "And now you will listen to what i will say. We all work
as mad. And if something went wrong, its your fault too."
      "If only you don't be so good at stories..." William
hissed through clenched teeths.
      "Ahh, so we are using thrown-out threat again?"
      "I may made sure, you don't get any more works into this
city!" William grin.
      "Empty shot. I can think of joining Fat Cat casino
workers. He as chance are looking for a beautiful bank-
holderin..."
      William's face turn red, and he run to table to get
another drink of 'water'. Syril used this time to care about
Blansh who stood forgetted into corner.
      "What's the problem this time?" she asked whispering.
      "He get a talk with Harold, and get an accusioned for
'boring stories'. So he get back and start made 'right
orders'..." Blansh whispered back.
      "Ah so our old 'bully' blow his fuses," Syril grin.
      "He wanted get you first, but you wasn't at place, so he
start with me."
      "Head up, girl. We will get out from this storm still on
float and with sails!"
      By that time William had regained his speaking
possibility and turned to girls.
      "To your attention, smartheads, i get an ultimatum from
our owner. We do get our paper more interesting, or it's
history. Dot." he said in dark voice.
      "Well, i think, we get it more interesting," Syril said,
ignoring Blansh's questioniong looks. "I have a ready story
about that terrible mexican animal, who held all village as
hostages and eat half of captives before get caught and selled
to travelling circus. I get great photos too, to illustrate that."
      William start breath more freely.
      "And that's not all! Yesterday i literally stumbled over
an excellent theme. "How become a millionaire"," Syril smiled.
      William shivered in terror.
      "NO!!! Why you always need try our owner's patience,
Syril?.." he said weakly.
      "It's not Harold! It's about the girl from mob, like me
or Blansh or Alexandra, that suddenly found himself rich,
because she is heir to old aristocrates. And i already get
exclusive rights for interviewing her! But i need money as she
is leaving to England today and i will ride with her."
      "Who will polish mexican story?" William asked.
      "Blansh. And if she stucks, you can always call me. Here
is adresses, i may be found in England," Syril drop two paper
pieces at William's table. "Now for travel check."
      Sighting, William wrote check and give it to Syril.
      Girl look it over and sight.
      "This will cover only tickets. Do i need starve in way?"
      Sighting even more, William wrote another check. Taking
it, Syril smiled weakly.
      "Okey, i will try survive."
      "What you want - golden plates for dinner?" William
cursed, but it was only a formally thing.
      Syril had already towed shocked Blansh out from his
cabinet.
      He drinked another gulp from glass of 'water' and shocked
found it empty.
      "One day these two will kill me," he whispered, falling
into chair. It wasn't clear, to what he adressed that...


            XXII. Together again.

      Door creaked.
      "Okey, creeps!" angry voice stated from outside. "Whoever
is in, come out!"
      Jonny stiffened curse and drop into battle position, but
then shocked turned to Lawainee. Mouse laugh silently!
      "It's ShortTail," she explained, noticing Jonny's
worrying look.
      "He thinks, we are robbers," she whispered, dragging
Jonny deeper into cave.
      "Dont he beat us?"
      "You forget - i'm his former boss. Let's play joke -
ShortTail newer was hero type."
      "Okey, creeps! But, when i get in, you will regret that!"
one at outside bellowed.
      Desiree winced to Jonny.
      "Okey, i give you last chance to surrend peacefully!"
      Jonny relaxed. That Shorttail really seemed more speaker
that do-er.
      Silence.
      Then door sprung open, and inside rolled lizard. Jonny
with professional look regarded, how well he avoided all
possible traps, occupers may have set for him - from door back,
from up and from further in cave.
      Desiree start laugh loud.
      Lizard turned at once toward sound source, but then spit
and relaxed.
      "Mis de Lury?" he asked more as statement.
      "Hello, Shorttail."
      "Hello. But... dont you fly away with Earl?" lizard
looked unsurely.
      "No." Desiree shaked her head. "I get a new chance for
profit."
      "Aha. And it includes something for me too?"
      Desiree bow head, agreeing.
      "Then count me in."
      "Okey. Here, meet with my new companion - Jon. Jonny,
this is Shorttail."
      Lizard overlook Jonny but ignored his stretced out hand.
      Start some stressed silence, as Jonny become dark.
      "Dont know, where's Vinny?" Desiree quickly asked.
      "Was with me at Fat Cat's casino."
      Desiree noticed, that Jonny stiffened, when lizard
mentioned cat name. She mentally noted it for a later
investigation.
      "Fat Cat's casino?" Desire hissed angrily. "You looked
for a new job at Fat Cat? That mean cheat-full feline?!"
      "Yes..." lizard nod sorrowfully. "You leaved, and we both
with Vinny found us unemployed. You know, better start look for
new boss, while you aren't under money-pressure - you can get
better chances. But now, when you're back..."
      "I see, you not only looked for new boss," Desiree
smiled, trying hide her outburst of fun. Jonny know something
about Fat Cat and was trying to hide it.
      "But how without that," Shorttail drop eyes. "You know
Vinny... I can't drop him alone..."
      "Yes, i know. That's why you now will go and get him
here, and fast. I need you both and as sober as possible. Now
hurry!"
      "Will do, boss!"
      Shorttail run out.

      Jonny shaked his head.
      "They really love you." he said.
      "Yes, i know."
      "But boss was Earl."
      "What do you mean?" Desiree dropped a worrying look at
rat. Was he wiser that she had thought?
      "Why Earl allowed you get the love of his men? He need
know, how dangerous will be situation, when they need choose,
which side take - your or his."
      "He loved me." Desiree said.
      "Still it's strange."
      "You may always ask Shorttail and Vinny about that, when
they get back here."
      "Be sure, i will do. Be sure." Jonny promised.
      'And you get same thing all rest get' Desire mentally
reply. But deep inside she feel, that Jonny was more dangerous
for her plans that Kid.